The Underclass - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Karen was rumored to be a president elected by the common people.

She had no family background, was once a petty thug rolling in the mud, and had even starved on the streets several times; her aptitude was initially mediocre, lacking even the opportunity to attend school.

But she herself became a legend of counterattack, winning the popular vote all the way to become the only commoner president in history. Her story inspired countless lower-class students, and Galaxy had grown up listening to her tale. Of course, by that time, Karen had already been in power for nearly ten years.

She closed her eyes to review the information Caleb had provided about Karen.

She observed Karen's movement trajectory. An election was approaching, but no one believed Karen would fail to secure re-election. Relying on her outstanding abilities, she had already been re-elected twice during the decennial transitions, both times without the slightest hint of defeat.

Karen's thirty years of presidential life had given her absolute control over this world. Even now, her daily routine mostly consisted of staying in the Viciriel Office in District A, processing the snowflakes of government affairs transmitted from all over the Federation.

Only on extremely rare occasions would she choose to relax at a golf course or a racing track.

From every angle, she was an unimpeachable, perfect person.

She never visited AR technology pavilions or venues popularizing holographic entertainment; she refused to participate in any recreational activity that would even briefly control her brain, always maintaining absolute rationality.

Galaxy leaned her head back in the hot spring, feeling somewhat drowsy from reading the files.

Karen's itinerary for the next few days remained mostly within the Viciriel Office. Entering the office was no easy task, but another item on her schedule a week from now presented a much more convenient opportunity.

In a week, Karen had an appointment to play golf with another presidential candidate, Zoraï.

And coincidentally, Zoraï was the Federation's Minister of Administration—and An Hua's mother.

Galaxy curled her lips. Was it a coincidence?

But regardless, this was a prime time for her to strike.

"Is there any way to get me into the Surja Golf Course a week from now?" she asked.

Caleb nodded. "We can try, but the chances are slim. If you just want to accomplish your goal, long-range sniping should work too, right?"

"Long-range sniping—" Galaxy pondered the words, lost in thought for a good while before saying, "That works too. Find me a good sniper vantage point."

Caleb said, "That's much easier. But I must warn you, Karen's security detail is incredibly strong. We've scouted at least twenty high-intelligence mechanical enforcers around her. A long-range shot, even from an air compression gun, will have a hard time hitting her directly; there's a high probability it will be intercepted by the mechanical enforcers."

Galaxy laughed. "Did I ever say I intended to completely kill her this time?"

Caleb removed the cotton towel from her head, looking somewhat hesitant. "Then what do you mean?"

Galaxy replied, "If she faces frequent assassinations, gaps are likely to appear around her, giving us an opening. Therefore, not just me, but I hope that a week from now, after I launch the first assassination attempt at the Surja Golf Course, you all will launch even more assassination attempts. When they are exhausted and terrified by the constant attacks, perhaps I'll find a new opportunity."

If there was no opportunity, she would create one.

"Furthermore, in a month, the public voting between her and Zoraï will reach a fever pitch. No matter how many assassinations she faces, she must appear before the public to avoid disappointing them," Galaxy explained. "After all, her files show that she is someone who operates flawlessly. She won't tolerate the existence of any 'possibilities' or 'risks.' Her presidential seat was hard-won, and she must defend it completely."

Of course, there was one more thing she left unsaid.

Only by securing the presidency could the various experiments that began under her tenure continue smoothly, and only then could she maximize her own protection.

Even though the majority of the higher-ups might know what the Federation had been doing all these years, and future successors would likely allow these activities to persist, if word ever leaked and the public demanded an explanation, Karen—who had served as the Federation's president for so many years yet was ultimately replaceable—would become the perfect scapegoat.

Once she left the presidency, it would be very difficult for her to protect herself.

Reading Karen's files today had further solidified some of Galaxy's speculations. Many of the experiments had begun thirty years ago, such as the tyap-j mining operations, the genetic screening that sorted commoners into different academies, and even the establishment of the laboratory in Lucia Town.

This year marked exactly thirty years since Karen took office. All of this had started when she assumed the presidency and gained unparalleled power.

To figure everything out, it would be better to go straight to the source.

Galaxy was already tired of running around searching for traces of An Hua.

That was far less straightforward than finding Karen directly and demanding the truth.

Even if getting to Karen was difficult, perhaps even harder than finding An Hua.

But so what?

Galaxy no longer cared.

Her gaze gradually hardened with resolve.

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